Sole modifying inner sole



Jan. 2, 1940. B. .1. SILVER 2,185,526

SOLE MODIFYING INNER SOLE Original Filed May 21, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet lINVENTOR BENJAMIN J. SILVER ATTORNEYS Jan. 2, 1940. B. J. SILVER2,185,526

SOLE MODIFYING INNER SOLE Original Filed May 21, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR Z? ATTORNEYS BENJAMIN J. SILVER Patented Jan. 2, 194% thatearner crust,

some Monrrvmo INNER SOLE Benjamin .l. Silver, New York, N. Y. Originalapplication May 21, .1934, Serial No.

726,738. Divided and this application 1937; Serial No. 141,753

' 24 Claims.

The invention relates to a shoe and more particularly to theconformation of the foot engaging surface of the inner sole of a shoeand the disclosure herein constitutes an improvement and development ofthe invention disclosed v.

in my Patent No. 2,046,190 granted June 30, 1936, andthe presentdisclosure constitutes a division of my copending application Serial No;726,738 filed May 21, 1934.

The present invention, aswas the case with the disclosure in the aboveidentified patent, features the providing of a basic shoe which can beproduced as a'factory proposition and supplying with the basic. shoe aplurality of sole modifying inserts having both cushioned anduncushioned areas by means of which inserts the store salesman canselectively adopt the basic shoe to fit more accurately than is nowpossible the peculiar conformation of the foot of the particular personfor whom the basic shoe is being modified. v

In the prior patent, the basic sole contour was therein featured ashaving. low arch characteristics approaching a fiat footed condition,but in the device illustrated in this application while the sole mayhave low arch characteristics the basic sole is designed to more nearlyapproach arched contours not necessarily of maximum low archcharacteristics. v

lhe primary object of the present disclosure, as was the primaryobject'of the disclosure in the above patent, is to provide what maybecalled a store or factory produced shoe, in distinction from a custommade shoe, and which 7, basic shoe. canbe readily modified in its soleconformation to, more nearly fit the peculiar variationsof the maximumnumber of customers so as to give them a more accurate consideredanatomically thanhas been, possible heretofore.

present disclosure is not particularly intended to function curative orcorrective shoe, although obviously it may be used for such purposes atleast toa limited extent.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved form of innersole contour which in its cooperativerelation to cushioned and un sole.

pressure areas within limited areas of the shoe May 10,

The presentcdisclosur'e features an improving of the cushioning area atthe ball of the foot, distinguishing from the similar construction inthe prior patent in that the cushioned area herein is formed of anintegral insert rather than of the two separate inserts disclosed in theabove identified patent. In this application the cushioning insertbeneath the ball ofthe foot has its point of maximum elevation located Islightly in the rear of the heads of the three middle metatarsal bones,rather than beneath the head of the second bone as in the prior patent.There is also featured herein the extension of the cushion rearwardlyfrom this point of maximum elevation so as to provide a,

' support for the anterior portion of the metatar- As this ballcushioning Much discomfort is noticed in known forms of shoes in that aridge. or joint is formed between the sole forming the fiat portion ofthe heel pocket and the upstanding or counters forming the back of theheel portion of the shoe. Accordingly, another object of the inventionis to provide a socket or heel saddle of a single integral piece ofmateriaLpreferably of a resilient 0r cushioning material such as rubher,which saddle is of a scoop-like form with the concaved upper heelreceiving concavity free of joints and like breaks in the heel formingmaterial, andwhich saddle is designed to distribute throughout the samepressures imposed thereon by the plantar inner tuberosity of theoscalcis heel bone and the soft tissue around the heel bone.

Another object of the invention is to provide inserts for the basic shoewhich will function modulants of the sole contour provided by the basicshoe particularly in its function of providing longitudinal archsupporting features selectively for the inner or outer longitudinal archas may he required in any particular as well as the heel portion to helprotate the foot from heel to ball as a unit by the wedges hereinfeatured. I

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved form ofsole and heel contour modifying inserts which can be fitted to standardmakes of shoes not necessarily of the type herein featured as a basicshoe.

Various other objects and advantages of the" invention will be in partobvious from an inspection of the accompanying drawings and in part willbe more fully set forth in the following particular description of oneform of construction embodying the invention, and the invention alsoconsists in certain new and novel features of construction andcombination of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view taken longitudinally through thebasic shoe with two sole modifying inserts shown in position locatedwith reference to the bone structure of the foot shown in side elevationin dotted outline, and illustrating a preferred embodiment of theinvention;

Fig. 2 is a plan View loo-king down upon the inner sole of the basicshoe shown in Fig. l and with the replaceable inserts omitted;

Fig.3 is a similar view with the inserts in place and located relativeto the bone structure shown in plan;

- Figs. 4 and 6 to 8 inclusive are transverse sectional views takenthrough the shoe of Fig. l and through the vertical planes therethroughin the several positions indicated by the similarly designated sectionlines in Figs. 2 and 3; Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4; Figs. 4 and5 distinguishing from each other in that Fig. 4 shows a left flangeupwardly extending insert and Fig. 5 is a similar. right flange type ofinsert; Fig. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view through the rear portionof the shoe and taken on the irregular line 99 of Fig. 3 facingoutwardly as indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 10 is an explanatory figure in longitudinal section showing theconstruction of the inner and outer sole with the fixed ball pad shownin side elevation with a part broken away and located in position beforethe soles are pressed together;

Fig. 11 is an exploded View showing the inserts of Fig. l displaced fromthe heel saddle; and

Fig. 12 is a view in perspective of a single unitary insert forinsertion in any standard make of shoe. and forming a modified showingof the invention.

In the drawings and referring first to the basic shoe constructionillustrated in Fig. 1, there is shown a conventional form of womans shoecomprising an outer sole l9, an inner sole l l with the edge of theupper l2 secured at its forward portion between the soles asparticularly shown in Figs. 4 and 8 and at its rear end secured betweenthe upper sole and the top of the heel l 3 as shown in Figs. land 9. Inone commercial form of the device herein disclosed, the inner and outersoles were split from a single layer of leather. The outersole l0extends from end to end of the shoe and is provided above the heel ISwith an opening l4 extending therethrough directly beneath the plantarinner tube-rosity a of the bone skeleton. In the region beneath the ballof the toes, the outer sole is provided with an upwardly extendingintegral projection 55, said projection may be either of leather orreplaced by a resilient material, being somewhat elliptical in plan and10- cated to intrude into the similarly shaped opening it in the innersole H and from which open ing the projection it? was previously cut.The opposite long sides of the opening IE are split outwardly asindicated at l1, iii. A- ball or metaceive the ball of the foot.

tarsal area pad I9 is located in position with its forward endintrudedinto the opening [6 to reof highly flexible. material, such as softrubber, has a fiat underside 20 and a flatly arched upper side 2!. Whenviewed in plan the pad is some-' wider end overlapping the portion ofthe inner sole adjacent the rear edge of the opening l6 as particularlyshown in Fig. 2.

The pad is accurately formed with relation to the bone structure of thefore part of the foot,

This pad is formed it being noted that it underlies the second, third 1j and fourth metatarsals, designated respectively 2m, 3m, 4112, leavingthe first and--fifth metaof the second, third and fourth toes, leavingall the phalanges of the first and fifth toes as well as the second andthird phalanges, designated respectively p and p of the second,-thirdand fourth toes uncushioned. In other words, there is no intent hereinto cushion the toes but on the contrary to provide for the toes theconventional form of leather support. Considered rearwardly 35 the padl9 underlaps the anterior half of each ofthe shanks of the second-thirdand fourth metatarsals It is a feature of this pad that it has its pointof highest elevation indicated at 23 just back of the head h of thesecond metatarsal bone 2m and decreasesin all radial directions fromthis point of highest elevation to its outlying feathered edge 2d. Thisprovides a portion of greatest thickness disposed at the inner side ofthe central line or medial longitudinal section line of the shoe,indicated by the dash line ab of Fig. 2. The pad I9 is substantiallysymmetrical relative to its axis indicated by the dot and dash line c-clof Fig. 2 which extends at a slight angle from the line ab in thedirection towards the outer side of the shoe. The high point 23 islocated on the side of the; line a-b opposite the side containing thepad axis cal and adjacent the portion of the outlining edge 26,which'overlaps the outwardly curved portion of the inner sole. The innermargin of the pad l9 as well as its equivalent 49 overlies the shoeupper l2 adjacent the narrowest portion of the inner sole H andforwardly and adjacent to the outwardly forwardly curved inner edgethereof. It is the intent of this construction to provide a cushionedsupport for the forward central portion or crown of the metatarsal domejust in rear of the heads of the metatarsals and also to provide atransversely curved support of slightly less heighth for the transversearch formed by the heads of the metatarsal bones and to provide a curvedsupport for the region just in advance of the heads of the metatarsalbones.

The present disclosure particularly features the in all directions inelevation from this point of maximum elevation but to provide an uncushioned area surrounding the cushioned area'and underlying the bones ofthe first and fifth toes;

The rear edge of the inner sole H terminates at'transverse line at theforward edge of the heel is, it being understood that the plantar arch pat the shank of the shoe may be reinis understood that both the pad 59and-the saddle with a; protuberance 2i which extends through the openingid and inay'even be of a depth to intrude into a cavity scooped out ofthetop of the heel it. It is suggested that the protuberance 27! beless. resilient than the balance of the tion in the heel saddle.

heel saddle so that strains on the saddle'frorn the heel bone will bemore or less distributed uniformly across the entire bottom area of thesaddle, While the upper heel engaging surface of the saddle of smoothrounded contour from er go to edge it is suggested that a shallow de-.pressiondii beforined in the upper surface di rectly heel bone andspecifically beneath its plantar inner tuberosity a. This has the effectof pocketing the plantar inner tuberosity of the ,os calcis and thustends to prevent forward slipping of the heel out of its fixedposi- Theinner sole including the saddle is provided with two lines of socketsarranged on opposite sides of the medial line of the shoe' Two socketsso are located on the left side of the saddle and-two sockets aresimilarly located. on the right side ofthe saddle. The inner sole isprovided at its shank portion with a pair of sockets 32 along the leftor inner side of the sole and with a pair or sockets (not shown butcorresponding to 32) along the right or outer edge of the sole, saidsockets being adapted for use as elements of readily detachable snapfastem ing means for securing in place the inserts here inafterdescribed.

iii)

A sock lining hereinafter sometimes referred to as a top layer or soleengaging member 97;"

tends along the entire length of the inner sole as is usual andconcealsthe eyelets or sockets when the shoe fleaves the factory. The thusfardescribed is complete in itself referred to herein as the basic shoe.-inner sole with the heel saddle and metatarsal area pad in place, eitherwith or without the sock lining, will be referred to hereinafter as thebasic sole.

It will be understood that the shoe as so far described and without solemodifying inserts may be used by apersc-n having a normal foot but withlower than average arch conformation. The

"large majority of persona particularly those in adult life, havedeveloped anatomical abnorinalis' ties,

tion whatsoever to other correlative parts of the shoe. To supply thenecessity in such cases for providing support to the dome of thelongitudinal arches and even perhaps to contribute some curative effectin the case of fallen arches, the sales man is provided at the time hefits the shoe with one or more sole modifying inserts, hereinafterreferred to as sole modularits each comprising-a bottom portion andwhich may also be provided along one longitudinal edge with upturned or'basic insert.( The showing in Figs. 4 and 6 discloses a left flangemodulant ii and the showing in Fig. 5 discloses a right flange modulant33. In each case the insert is provided/with a curvedflange 3i roundingdownwardly and then sharply into a bottom or undersole portion 38. Inthe showlngin Fig. 11 the modulant is provided with flanges on bothlongitudinal edges. The flat bottom portion is provided with coastingfastening elements 3% in the instant case shown to be of thesnapfastener type disposed to fit either in the left hand line of elements36 as shown in Fig.4 or into the hand line of elements M as shown in.Fig. 5 depending upon whether a left or righ. flange modulant is used.

4- and 5 themodulants are of greatest thickness adjacent the round anglebetween the flat bottom portion and the upstanding flange, reducing inthicliness'to a feathered edge ill at the top of the flange and afeathered edge ll just beyond the medial line of the sole.

The modulants each include a heel socket 52 which is designed to fitsnugly into the heel saddle 25 and in this way accurately locate theflanges 31 in proper position considered both longitudinally andtransversely of the shoe to provide the support to the longitudinalarches of the foot. The modulants all underlie the inner longitudinalarch of the foot at the junction of the soaphoid so and theentocuneiform C1, the mesocuneiform C2 and the ectocuneiform C3, the twolatter forming the internal cuneiform bones. It is also suggested thatthe bottom portion 33 be extended forwardly beyond the shank to provideadditional elevation to the portion of the sole supporting themetatarsal dome for this,

purpose a pad 63 is included in the forward portion of modulant anddisposed to give additional elevation to the high point and to corntinue the support of the arch further rearwardly than is provided, bythe pad l9 alone. As shown in Fig. 1 the pad l? extends rearwardlyto thejuncture of the metatarsal m and the scaphoid so. It will be understoodthat these inodulants are not of any material thickness, even at theirplaces of maximum thickness and. the showings in the drawings have beenpurposely exaggerated so as to show clearly the relation of the detailparts.

It will be understood in cut disclosure features a ement in the1nodiflcation of the basic sole tructure out there is no intent toprovide for the gross variations imposed on standard shoes by the use ofthe arch elevators and lifts new found the market. The diiferencebetween the sole of a properly fitte shoe and one that seems to fit is amatter of refined dimensions of the. order of hundredths of an inch. Inthe instant case the basic shoe is presumed to fit the wearer in theusual sense ofgeneral that the pres- 1 the term and the use of theinserts herein disclosed is simply to add that small increment of soleVariation properly located to give a nicety of fit to minimize footfatigue over what would be provided simply by what is designated as aproperly fitting shoe in the commercial trade.

It so happens, of course, that with a relatively small number of personssomething more than this refined variation provided by the large orbasic insert or modulant hereinbefore discussed is necessary to insurethe desired perfection of fit and this necessary building up mostfrequently occurs somewhat high on the longitudinal arch, particularlythe inner longitudinal arch. In. order to meet this condition, there isdisclosed herein an additional or supplemental arch pad 44 hereinafterreferred to as a supplemental variant. This variant has its undersideconforming to the portion of the flange which is to be built up and theupper side as of which variant engaged by the foot is contoured to meetthe particular foot condition which it is intended to remedy. Both thebottom portion 38 as well as the pad M underlie the inner longitudinalarch at the junction of the scaphoid'sc' and the internal cuneiformbones C C and C Fastening means it, such as the snap fastenerspreviously described, are used to secure the variant in place, it beingunderstood that the variants have previously been fitted to themodulants as a factory operation.

The invention as thus described is predicated upon forming the basicshoe with its metatarsal pad i9 and heel saddle 26 incorporated in theshoe as a factory operation so that these cushioning elements arefixedly located relative to each other in the finished shoe. There isdis closed in Fig. 12 an insert designed to be fitted in a standard makeform of shoe which when installed in such a shoe will make of it a shoeapproximating the basic shoe in its sole conforming outline with theheel saddle and metatarsal pad properly located. This insert 4,! isshown to comprise a heel saddle 43 which corresponds to the heel saddle26, except that it has a flat curve on its underside with theprotuberance 2! omitted and with the cavity 29 retained and which cavityis necessarily made shallow in those cases where lack of clearancenecessitates the thinning out of the under portion of the saddle.Properly located in forwardly spaced relation to the saddle is ametatarsal pad id corresponding to the pad is and like the pad I 9formed of highly resilient material and a material having greaterresiliency than the material of which the heel saddle is composed.Positioned between the saddle and the pad is a spacer 5d ofnon-resilient material. such as leather, and which may have no materialthickness in those cases where there is no intent to modify the shankportion of the conventional shoe. The spacer 5B extends anteriorly fromthe heel saddle at and medially along the longitudinal medial plane ofthe shoe. In those cases where it is desired to modify this portion ofthe sole, the spacer'btl may have the form of one of the modulants 35 or36, or as shown may have both flanges corresponding to 3? of Figs. 4 and5 and in this case designated 5! and 52. The spacer 5d overlaps at itsrear end and is secured to the advance portion of the heel saddle andoverlaps at its forward end and is secured to the rear portion of thepad 49. Even though the rear edge of the spacer 55 be bevelled in orderto avoid the presentation of pronounced ridges to the underside of thefoot, still it functions at least to a limited degree in preventingforward movement of the heel from the heel saddle S8 and in this waysupplements the similar function of the depression 29. "Ifhe entireconstruction shown in Fig. 12 resembles the basic 7 shoe of Fig. 1 withitsinserts and likewise is provided with a feathered edge 53 whichassists in avoiding sharp breaks, ridges or joints between the insertand the inner face of the shoe in which be more permanently located asby gluing, ce-

menting or vulcanizing. 7

While there have been shown, described and pointed out in the annexedclaims, certain novel features of the invention, it will be understoodthat various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form anddetails of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made bythose skilled in the art without departing from the spiritof theinvention.

I claim:

1. In a shoe, a cushioning pad forming a segment of an egg shape formwith its flat side downward and its arch. side upward having its pointof maximum elevation under the shaft of the second metatarsal bonethereby to fit under. and tend to support the metatarsal dome, saidthickness reducing from its point of maximum thickness in all directionsto a feathered edge. said pad having its major axis extendinglongitudinally of the shoe, terminating at itsrear-end beneath themiddle metatarsal bonesterminating at its forward end beneath the middlephalanges and having a width to underlap the heads of the three middlemetatarsal bones leaving the Y heads of the first and fifth metatarsalbones uncushioned, or substantially so and a supplemental pad having itsforward edge located rear-1 wardly of the forward edge of the firstnamedpad, overlapping its portion of maximum elevation and thus modifying thecontour of the upper side of the first named pad in the region adjacentsaid point of maximum thickness and the] j rear edge of saidsupplemental pad terminating adjacent the bases of the three middlemeta+ tarsal bones.

2. In a shoe, means providing a basic sole in-,

cluding a cushioning pad substantially elliptical in plan and having aconvex upper surface with its point of maximum elevation beneath themetatarsal area and inrear of the-head of the second metatarsal bone,said pad projecting forward beyond said head, and a replaceable insertfor modifying the contour of the basic sole, said insert extending fromthe heel portion and having its forward end overlappingth'e rear portionof said pad and adding to themaximum releva tion at the pad forming partof the basic sole.

3. In a shoe, means providing a basic sole in-f cluding a cushioning padhaving a convex upper surface with its point of maximum elevationbeneath the metatarsal area and in the rear of the head of the secondmetatarsal bone, said pad projecting forward beyond said head, and areplaceable insert for modifying the contour of the,

basic sole, said insert extending from the heel portion and having itsforward end overlapping the rear portion of said pad and adding to themaximum elevation at the pad forming part of the basic sole, and saidinsert including an elevated padded area located, when the insert is inplace, in position centered approximately beg x g 2,185,526-

heath the midlength of. the shankof the middle metatarsal bone. i

In a shoe, means providing a basic soleincludinga cushioning padhaving aconvex upper surface with its pointof maximum elevation be.-

neath .the metatarsal area andin the rear of the head of the secondmetatarsal bone, said pad projecting forward beyond said. head,'and a replac'eable main insert forfmodifying the contour of;the basic, sole,said insert extending from the heel portion and having its forward endoverlap pingthe rear portion of saidpadand adding to themaxir'numelevation'atthe pad forming part' of, the basic soleQand a second insertconstituting. a supplemental variant for modifying a portion, ,of thesole engaging contour of the. main insert and means detaohablysecuringthe second insert to the main insert.

5. An inner sole-fora shoe having two cushioned areas and the balance ofthe-solesurfaoe engaging the foot beinguncu'shioned, one of saidareas-located to receive the entire heel or the wearer andthe other areaextending longitudinally' of the shoe in advance ofthe shank and in therear of the third phalanges of the second,

third and fourth toe, said-othercushioned area' being confined totheanterior half of the metatarsaldome, to the'heads' of the second,third and fourth metatarsal bones and extending forward of said headsand a removable insert having a substantially uncushioned areaoverlapping the cushioned heel and, a cushioning area over- 7 lappingthe rear portion ofsaid other cushioned area of the shoe.

6. An inner sole for a shoe having two cush- 'ioned areas and" thebalance of the sole surface engaging the foot being uncushioned, one ofsaid areas located to receive the entire heel of the wearer and theother ,area extending longitudinally of the shoe in advance of the shankand in the rear of the third phalanges of the second,

third and fourth too, said other cushioned area being confined to theanterior half of the meta tarsal dome, to the heads of the second, thirdandfourth metatarsal bon-esiand extending forward of said heada'and areplaceable insert constituting an inner sole modulant forthe shoe, saidinsert having a convexed underside at one end "fitting in the cushionedheel area and having a concaved heel receiving socket and said modulant'having its forward end substantially fiat and containing in theflatarca, a slightly elevated I cushioning area located beneath thecentral portion of the metatarsal. dome and having its anterior endoverlapping theposterior portion of the first mentioned cushion.

7. An inner sole for a shoe having two cush- I ioned areas andthebalance of the sole surface engaging the foot being uncushioned,'one ofsaid areas being located to receive. the entire heel of the wearer andthe other area extendinglongitudinally of the shoe in advance of theshank and the rear of the third phalangesof the second,

third. and fourth toes, said other cushioned area being confined to. theanterior half'of the meta-- tarsal dome, to .the heads of the second,third and fourth metatarsal, bones and extending slightly forward ofsaidhead and a replaceable insert having at its midlength upwardly curvedside flanges rounding attheir lower edges into "the substantially flatportion of the insert at the shank of the shoe.

' 8. An inner sole iora shoe having. two cushioned areas andthe balanceof the sole surface engaging thefoot being uncushioned, one of saidconformed to receive the heel of the wearer areas located to receive theentire heel of the wearer and the-other area extending-longitudinally ofthe shoe in advance of the shankandin the rear of the third phalangesofthe second,

third and fourth toes, said other cushioned area being confined to theanterior half of the metatarsal dome, to the heads of the second, thirdand fourth metatarsal bones slightly forward of said heads,a replaceablein having at its midlength'upwardiy curved side. flanges rounding attheir lower edges into the substantially fiat portion of the insert atthe shank of the shoe, and a second relatively small slightly curved insrt located onone of the said.

muting a supplemental variant flanges-an eon the sole contour of the formodif g s11 shank portion of t e shoe sole as formed b ythe mainreplaceable insert;

A replaceable. one-piece insert for modifyingtheinner sole conformationof a shoe, said insert comprising a concaved heel receiving scckandextending v et at one end including an upwardly curvedrirn,

upturned side flanges into which merge the ends of said rim, a shankfitting extension projecting forwardly of the'fianges and having alength to terminate'in the rear of the heads of the meta tarsal bones,said extension being provided adjacentits forward end and centrallythereof with a cushioning: pad located beneath the. anterior half of thethree middle metatarsal bones.

11. In a shoe construction, a single fabricated and easily removableinsert comprising a heel saddle of resilient material and including aflange outlining the side and rear edge of the samaa metatarsal pad ofresilient and a connector of relatively non-flexible material formingthe shank portion of the insert and fixedly conmeeting the heel saddleand metatarsalpad in prefixed relative position, said non-fie b portionbeing provided with an upturned flange lapping one side of the heelsaddle flange and ccactingtherewith to form an upstanding side providinga support for one of the longitudinal arches of the wearers foot. I a1.2. A preiormed'insert for a shoe compri ing in order a. heel saddlehaving its upper su.

formed integrally of resilient material, a longi-, tudinal arch support.of non-resilient material and ajnietatarsal pad of greater resiliencythan thesaddle, the arch support includinga bottomportion'and a sideflange rounding downwardlyand inwardly about a curve of short radiusinto the bottom portion, andsaid insert reducing'inthickness towards afeathered outlining edge.

13.. In a foot controller, a heel portion, a curved upturned arch thrustportion extending anterior ly from theheel portioinsaid heel porti m inggradually from an interior. portion towards its outer longitudinal edge,the arch thrustpon tiori provided with a pad of approximateelliptical'formadapted tounderlie the inner longitudinal arch at thejunction of the scaphoid and the internal cuneiform bones, and rneansfor securpost pad adapted to support the forward end of v "themetatarsal arch of the foot and filling the space normally occurringbetween the foot and 'theshoe sole at the region-posterior of the distalends of the metatarsal bones at thejuncture of the shank and theforepart of the shoe, which space occurs due to the increased heelheight, the longitudinal cross section of the pad being varied inthickness so as to form an uninterrupted continuation of the curvatureof the shoe sole and the transverse section being such as to provide aportion of greatestthickness disposed at the inner side of the centralline of the shoe, and the inner margin of the pad overlying the shoeupper adjacent the narrowest portion of the insole and forwardly andadjacent to substantially the entire outwardly forwardly curved inneredge thereof.

l5.-In a shoe, a sole construction embodying an insole having a portionof narrowest width and curving outwardly along the inner edge, a padadapted to support the forward end of the metatarsal arch of the footand filling the space normally occurring between the foot and the shoesole at the region posterior of the distal ends of the metatarsal bonesat the juncture of the shank and the forepart of the shoe, thelongitudinal cross section of the pad being varied in thickness so as toform an uninterrupted con tinuation of the curvature of the shoe soleand the transverse section being such as to provide a portion ofgreatest thickness disposed at the inner side of the central line of theshoe, and the inner margin of the pad overlying the shoe upper adjacentthe, narrowest portion of the insole and adjacent to a portion of theoutwardly forwardly curved inner edge thereof.

16. In a shoe, a sole construction embodying an insole having a portionof narrowest width at the junction of the shank and thefore part of theshoe and curving outwardly forwardly .of this point along both the innerand outer edge, a pad adapted to support the forward end of themetatarsal arch of the foot and filling the space normally occurringbetween the foot and the shoe sole at the region posterior of the distalends of the metatarsal bones at the juncture of the shank and theforepart of the shoe, the longitudinal,

cross section of the pad being varied in thick ness so as to form anuninterrupted continuation of the curvature of the shoe sole and thetrans verse section being such as to provide a portion of greatestthickness disposed at the inner side of the central line of the shoe andoverlapping and extending entirely across the shoe upper adjacent thenarrowest portion of the insole and forwardly and adjacent a portion ofthe outwardly forwardly curved edge thereof.

17. In a shoe, the combination of an outer sole, a metatarsal pad ofapproximate elliptical form located on top of sole in the regionsupporting the metatarsal arch and located with its part of the outeredge of the pad'overlapping and 7 extending beyond the adjacent edgeof's'aid sole and an additional pad overlapping the, rear portion of theelliptical ipad and means for scour-' ing the pad to the "sole;-

. a i 7 18. In a shoe, the combination of a top layer shaped to conformin'one part thereof to the I shank portion of the shoe, an arched memberunderlapping" theunderface of said top-layer 1D and conforming in shape,to-one of the longitudinal arches of a humanfoot, said archedmember'having one of its side edges extended beyond the adjacent sideedge of the top layer and a supporting pad secured toone'of the surfacesof said archedmember, the" outer edge'of said supporting pad extendingbeyond the adjacent edge of the top layer 'and'terminating short of theouter edge of the arched member. I

19. An ,arch support for shoes comprising a sole engaging member adaptedto be positioned in a shoe, said' member being shaped to conform to theshank portion ofthe-shoe, an arched me ber overlapped bythe engagingmember and ex tending throughout the width thereof, said arched memberconforming in shape to the inner longitudinal arch of a human foot andhavingo ne of its side edges extendedbeyond the adjacent side edge ofthe sole engaging member, an arch supporting pad having athickportionand a thin porion, and means for securing said arch supportingpad to one of the faces of the arched member with its thick portionpositioned beneath the outer edge portion of the arched member.

20. In a shoe, a sole construction embodying an insole having a portionbetween the narrowshoe and having an edge curving outwardly andforwardly from said narrowest part, a padsubf stantially elliptical inplan overlapping said part of the insole and adapted to support theforward end of the metatarsal bones of the foot, an edge portion of thepad overlapping a portion of said 1 forwardly curving edge of theinsole, the longi Y tudinal "cross section of the pad being varied ir'rthickness so as toform an interruptedcontintransverse section being suchas to provide a poruation of thelcurvature of the shoe sole and the tionof greatest thickness disposed atone side a a of the medial line of theshoe and a sole engaging member at least-partially overlapping the padand extending rearwardly of the pad'a-nd thus overlapping the portion ofthe insole which stantially elliptical in plan' overlapping said part II of the insole and adapted to support the forward forwardly curvingedge of theinsole, the longitudinal cross section of the pad beingvariedin thickness soas to form an interrupted continua portion of greatestthickness disposed at one side of the medial line of the shoe.

22. In a shoe, the combination of an inner sole, a pad substantiallyelliptical in plan and with ff one end wider than the other end andhaving a slightly curved top surface, said pad disposed to support theforward end of the metatarsal arch of the foot, the longitudinal axis ofthepad ex-,

est part of the shank and thefore part of the i e6; end of themetatarsal bones of the foot, an edge 5 portion of the pad overlapping aportion of said:

, 65 v tion of the curvature of the shoe' sole and the transversesection being such" as to provide a tending at'a slight angle to thelongitudinal'medial plane of the insole, said pad having a point ofmaximum thickness located on the side of the medial plane opposite theaxis of the pad and nearer. the inner thanthe outer edge of the insoleand said top surface gradually curving from said point of maximumthickness in all directions towards its outlining edge and a soleengaging member overlapping and projecting in all directions beyond theoutlines of the pad.

23. In a shoe, the combination of an inner sole, a pad substantiallyelliptical in plan and l with one end wider than the other end and hav-20 the side of the medial plane opposite the axis of the pad'and nearerthe inner than the outer edge of the insole and said top surfacegradually curving from said point of maximum thickness in all directionstowards its outlining edge.

24. In a shoe, the combination of an inner sole, a rubber pad forming acontinuation of the inner sole at the heel portion of the-shoe, aresilient layer of soft material covering the ball portion of said innersole, apiece of thin upper leather covering said resilient layer wherebyan inner sole hard at the toebut soft at the ball portion is formed anda metatarsal support having its forward portion overlapping the rearportion of the soft layer and adapted to support the second, third andfourth metatarsal bones, the first and fifth metatarsal bones resting atleast partially on the soft layer exterior-1y of the metatarsal support.

BENJAMIN J. SILVER.

